Round 2: Storm v Bulldogs preview
A team that is supposed to be on the slide against one that is meant to be on the rise
For both the Storm and Bulldogs last week it was more of the same. Although that meant very different things.
For Melbourne, it meant another gritty victory built on pure effort and willpower, even in the face of a growing injury toll.
"Just being so gutsy through the whole 80 minutes," as coach Craig Bellamy put it after the 16-12 win over Parramatta.
"I don't think we've been like that for the past 12 months. I thought we made some steps forward in that area, and hopefully we can keep that up."
As for the Bulldogs, a season that promises so much opened in underwhelming fashion, going down 31-6 to the Sea Eagles.
Obviously it's far too early to make any broader assessments on whether the new-look Bulldogs will eventually click or end up fading into insignificance.
After all, as coach Cameron Ciraldo said after that defeat, the Bulldogs did have three NRL debutants on Sunday while four other players were running out for the first time in blue and white.
Injuries up front in particular have taken their toll on Canterbury-Bankstown early in the season, seeing the likes of Jayden Tanner and Jacob Preston rewarded with spots on the interchange.
The pair have retained their spots on the bench this week, with Ciraldo naming the same 17 that went down to Manly, giving his side another week to build on combinations and cohesion.
As for Melbourne, the loss of Cameron Munster to a finger injury has Tyran Wishart injected into the starting side at five-eighth and Aaron Pere returning from a rib issue in his place on the bench.
Xavier Coates may be in some doubt after picking up a shoulder injury last week against Parramatta, although he has been named with Grant Anderson offering Bellamy cover on the extended bench.
AAMI Park has not been a happy hunting ground for the Bulldogs, who have not won at the venue since 2016.
Irrespective of venue though, the Storm have dominated recent meetings between the two sides, winning their past seven games against the Bulldogs.
Last meeting: Round 4 2022 - Storm 44 Bulldogs 0
Who to watch: With Munster sidelined there will be even more pressure on halfback Jahrome Hughes to create for Melbourne while also directing the team around alongside the more inexperienced Wishart.
The versatile 23-year-old has 16 NRL appearances to his name but has often operated as Mr. Fix It for Melbourne, filling the void left in the halves for the next few weeks. Being in and out of the team and in different positions though means Wishart will be looking for Hughes to take on added responsibility at halfback and as the more experienced of the two.
While not the most traditional halfback, Hughes has been able to find a perfect balance in his game, kicking to corners when needed and also taking the line on if the opportunity presents itself. This week though, Hughes will have to be even more diligent in his decision-making.
It may have been a relatively quiet debut for hyped local junior Paul Alamoti but it won't be too long before the 19-year-old announces himself on the NRL stage.
After all, Alamoti didn't really have much of an opportunity in last week's loss to Manly. In other words, he was a victim of his team's inability to hold onto the ball and as a result build pressure, in turn creating points-scoring opportunities.
Even with limited chances, Alamoti finished the game with a solid 11 runs for 96 metres and could benefit from getting early ball in space to make the most of his power and speed.
The favourite: The Storm are clear favourites but it's not that one-sided given Munster's injury.
My tip: While the revamped Bulldogs are still a long way from figuring out their identity, the Storm also looked disconnected at times in attack last week.
No Munster hurts but you simply have to trust Bellamy will be able to get the job done with a simplified game plan. Storm by 8.
